The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-05-04

would grow is ROW covered with furnishing
forests, and The Great American Desert as
the State used to be called, has become habit
able and hospitable through the instrument
tally OF tree planting. Ex-Goy. Morton saws
there are growing in Nebraska to-day 100000
acres OF trees which have been planted by hui
man hands, and according to ex-Gov Furness,
United States Forest Commissioner, over
Cos, 1000, 900 trees are thriving in that State,
where few years ago none could be seen
except along the streams.
Kansas soon initiated Nebraska, with
equally good results. Minnesota planted
over million and a half of trees on its first
arbor day in 1876. Michigan adopted the
custom in 1881, and Ohio in 1882. Since then
the idea has spread rapidly. Arbor Day is
now observed in Colorado, Wisconsin, West
Virginia, New Hampshire, Massachusetts,,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ala
bama, Missouri, Indiana, California, Geor-
gia and Vermont, besides the States before
mentioned.
The scope of the observance of the day
has been considerably enlarged since it was
first instituted In Nebraska, and the interest
of the young, especially the pupils in the
public schools, has been enlisted in many
States by special instruction on that day in
the subject of trees, their proper care and
their uses, the effect of forests upon the eli
mate and the rainfall, and other matters per-
tinent to the subject. On the first Arbor
Day in Ohio the children of the public
schools of Cincinnati planted memorial trees
and dedicated them to authors, statesmen,
and other distinguished citizens. The teach
ers talked with the pupils about trees, and
the pupils read compositions or repeated Sc
lections on the same subject. In most of the
States now prominent feature of the OBJ
servance Of the day has come to be this in
struction OF the children on matters relating
to forestry, and wherever the practice has
taken root 1t has grown rapidly in favor not
| only with the general public, but with criti-
cal and conservative educators. The Ma
| tional Educational Association has unani-
mously expressed its approval of the custom,
| and so has the American Forestry Congress.
In the State of Connecticut not only is
Arbor Day regularly appointed and observed
but the State offers an annual bounty to any
| person planting and protecting forest trees
one-quarter of mile or more along the
highway, of one dollar annually for ten
| years for each quarter of mile so planted.
| 1t is hardly necessary to point out the
good that will accrue from general observ-
ance of Arbor Day in this State, now
appointed by Gov. Bodwell for the first
time There are thousands of acres of land
In Maine unfit for cultivation, and now
running to waste, which may in a few years
be covered with forests at the expense only
of an inconsiderable amount of time and la
Dor. A day spent once year by our rural
population in tree planting in generation
would work a wonderful change in the ap-
pearance of the State, and change vastly
| for the better. In the cities of course there
Is no opportunity for economic tree;planting,
but even there much may be done in the
way of ornament. The streets, public
| grounds. school yards all admit of some
thing in this direction. The exercises Of the
| Cincinnati schools on their Arbor Day can be
followed with profit The pupils can be in
structed in the uses and care of trees, and
the day can be made profitable and interest
ing to them. At recent meeting Of the
| State Board of Agriculture of Connecticut
Prof. Brewer made some remarks on this
| subject, which are as applicable in Maine
as in the State to which they were ad-
dressed. He said:
| Il advocate Arbor Day In schools and for
| economic tree planting for three reasons. In
| the first place for the benefit of the school
children themselves 1t is a good bit
oil Natures teaching which they need. This
matter conceive to be of the very greatest
Importance. The ignorance of city children
In regard to natural objects which are grow
ing all about them may seem incredible. l
have just talked with city young men from
prominent families, who could not give the
names OF three kinds of trees. / can pick
out college students to-day, who do not
know the difference between wheat and oats,
or rye and barley. In the second place for
its economic Importance, because In the end
y VIII pc the means OF spreading wood grow
ing in the State 1t will increase interest in
forest culture and tend to clothe with yalua-
BILE timber many hillsides where now are on
| " worthless bushes. In the third place for
It's results in identifying our State. 1t will
make places now cherries more cheerful,
and those already pleasant, more beautiful